Comparing

Governments
US and UK

By David Ayrault

Leaders

United States

President
Obama
Elected
4 Year Terms
US Citizen, 35 Years
Old, Lived in US 14
Years

United Kingdom
Prime Minister
David Cameron
Appointed
Changes When Party
Majority Changes
No Formal Qualifications,
Traditionally is the Leader
of the Majority Party

Lawmaking Body

United States

Congress
Bicameral
535 People

United Kingdom

Parliament
Bicameral
650 People

Freedoms

United States
Has Freedom of
Speech
Has Freedom of
Religion
Has Right to Bear
Arms

United Kingdom
Has Freedom of
Speech
Has Freedom of
Religion
Has Right to Bear
Arms

Political Parties

United States
2 Party System
Republican
conservative and
traditional
Democrat liberal
and welcoming to
change

United Kingdom
Multi-party System
Conservative British Unionism
Labour privatization and antiunionism
Liberal Democrats social
mobility
Scottish and Welsh Nationalists
Self Government for their
Birthplace
Northern Ireland Parties
Irelands Separation from the UK

Elections and Voting

United States
18 Years Old and a
Citizen
4 Years for
Presidency
Primary and General
Elections

United Kingdom

18 Years Old and a

National
5 Years
General Elections

Taxes and Gov.

Income
United States

Has Income Tax

Taxes
Military 15%
Education 2%
Healthcare 21%

United Kingdom

Has Income Tax

Taxes
Military 5%
Education 13%
Healthcare 18%

Law

United States

United Kingdom
Doesnt use Death
Penalty
0.10996% crime
rate (per 1000)
78,753 people in
prison
can request a Trial
by Jury

Uses Death Penalty

0.04129% crime
rate (per 1000)
2.02 million people
in prison
Trial by Jury

Current Relationships

The relationship between the US and UK if viewed by both

sides political leaders and population as very positive.
Mutual military and non-military cooperation, which
continues today, was cemented in the Second World War.
According to a BBC World Service Poll, 58% of British
people view Americans in a positive way and 66% of
Americans view the British in a positive way. 52% of the
British population view American influence positively and
81% of Americans view British influence positively. Both
nations foreign policies state that the positive relationship
between the US and UK is the most important relationship
at the time. The UK has always been the biggest investor in
the US and vice versa.